# Bill Kristol's "Independent Candidate" - who will it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 30, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048 "2016-05-30T01:25:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/101 "2016-06-01T21:30:52Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Yes, enough of a patriot to demand a US foreign policy in the hands of the Likud Party. what does the Likud Party have to do with this?? Kristol’s “hawkishness” is not too different than Jeane Kirkpatrick’s. I know you [Israel bashers try to make Israel the scapegoat](http://fpif.org/dont_blame_the_iraq_debacle_on_the_israel_lobby/) for the Iraq War, and when you deny it, it becomes “only Likud.” But the scapegoating for America’s troubles didn’t stop after Sharon left Likud and Olmert (Kadima as PM) took the helm. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/102 "2016-06-01T22:26:53Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > By the one that says that there’s always gonna be a country that wants to lead the world . . . But there won’t always be one that gets to. If America stops trying to lead, well, few countries have any reason to follow Russia’s or China’s lead. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/103 "2016-06-01T22:38:23Z")
In theory, nothing wrong with America being the strongest, so long as we don’t start acting like it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/104 "2016-06-01T23:59:07Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Kristol’s “hawkishness” is not too different than Jeane Kirkpatrick’s. Great Caesar’s ghost! I haven’t thought about Jeane Kirkpatrick for ten years, since gently smiling over her obituary. Get me a stick, a baseball bat, a fireplace poker, anything! I have to beat it back into its grave! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/105 "2016-06-02T00:48:58Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > what does the Likud Party have to do with this?? You’ve made it very clear that supporting Netanyahu is your most moral position, even more important than supporting the United States. What party is Netanyahu the leader of? ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/106 "2016-06-02T05:37:23Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You’ve made it very clear that supporting Netanyahu is your most moral position, even more important than supporting the United States. What party is Netanyahu the leader of? you’re the one hijacking the thread; the thread is supposed to be about Kristol and his third party candidate. All I did was say how I felt bad for Kristol and at least he’s patriotic (unlike Trump and Bernie), and you and others turned it into an attack on me. But while I’m responding, fact is America and Israel’s interests are nearly identical; no one is putting Likud as more important than the US. The only ones accusing anyone of that are far-left and alt-righters. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/107 "2016-06-02T05:58:40Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > …and at least he’s patriotic… You’re right, that’s the least. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/108 "2016-06-02T06:11:37Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > what does the Likud Party have to do with this?? Kristol’s “hawkishness” is not too different than Jeane Kirkpatrick’s. > > I know you [Israel bashers try to make Israel the scapegoat](http://fpif.org/dont_blame_the_iraq_debacle_on_the_israel_lobby/) for the Iraq War, and when you deny it, it becomes “only Likud.” But the scapegoating for America’s troubles didn’t stop after Sharon left Likud and Olmert (Kadima as PM) took the helm. I wasn’t talking about Iraq but rather current elements of Likud policy such as demands for a constantly aggressive attitude towards Iran. That said, I find it funny you should mention Jeane Kirkpatrick considering that when the Argentine military junta ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands, she advocated a policy of neutrality even though the United Kingdom (whatever you may think of Thatcher) was under a democratically elected government and the overwhelming majority of Falklanders approved of being part of the UK. How’s that for betraying long-time allies? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/109 "2016-06-02T06:20:29Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > its also easy for armchair pacifists to be against all force use even tho other Americans have been victims of radical Islamic terrorism and billions of dollars and thousands of man/hours spent to foil/stop the plots, just in the use of surveillance and intel alone (before using any force). Which had utterly nothing to do with the Iraq invasion–the one that was launched against a secular dictatorship, opening the way for both sectarian violence and the rise of ISIS. Your “armchair pacifists” claim is a straw man to help you avoid facing your desire to repeat GWB’s mistakes, all the while professing to be a Democrat. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/110 "2016-06-02T08:49:52Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I wasn’t talking about Iraq but rather current elements of Likud policy such as demands for a constantly aggressive attitude towards Iran. Couldn’t have anything at all to do with an Islamic fundamentalist regime working on the bomb. Naah. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/111 "2016-06-02T09:15:55Z")
So David French is his guy? Seriously? And French hasn’t even consented to run? Not to mention that while David French is a heckuva a human being, he’s the kind of guy you introduce to politics with a House run, not a Presidential run. Look, the LP is running two two term governors on their ticket. That’s the minimum bar a third party needs to hit to compete in this race. Running a war hero with no political experience ain’t going to cut it unless he’s like a general with foreign policy experience or something like Stan MacChrystal. There are literally 10,000 vets who are more qualified to run for office than David French at this point. If not 100,000. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/112 "2016-06-02T09:36:25Z")
> [@Johnny\_Ace](#): > > Couldn’t have anything at all to do with an Islamic fundamentalist regime working on the bomb. Naah. My stance on Iran is exactly the same as that of the President. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/113 "2016-06-02T09:39:06Z")
My stance on Iran is exactly what Hillary Clinton really thinks, given that she did not make a deal when she was SecState and took a much harder line on negotiations than Kerry did. And even Kerry was prodded by the President demanding that we get “creative” to get to a deal when it looked like one wouldn’t happen, which is politispeak for “make whatever concessions you have to”. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/114 "2016-06-02T12:14:58Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My stance on Iran is exactly what Hillary Clinton really thinks, given that she did not make a deal when she was SecState and took a much harder line on negotiations than Kerry did. And even Kerry was prodded by the President demanding that we get “creative” to get to a deal when it looked like one wouldn’t happen, which is politispeak for “make whatever concessions you have to”. I’m skeptical if this is Hillary’s true feelings, but if they’re yours, then your feelings would lead to a much, much higher chance of Iran building a bomb. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/115 "2016-06-06T02:03:03Z")
[It won’t be David French.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/david-french-won-t-mount-independent-bid-president-n586186) > [@](#): > > After days of prayer, reflection, and serious study of the possibilities, I am not going to run as an independent candidate for president of the United States. If French was the strongest potential savior Kristol could come up, he’s pretty much hit the bottom of the barrel. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/116 "2016-06-06T02:14:22Z")
Oh, you can get much lower than French. French at least has a following among conservatives. For example, lower than French in status would be Bill Kristol himself. ---
**Author:** ![DerekMichaels00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DerekMichaels00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekMichaels00)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/117 "2016-06-06T02:15:59Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > My stance on Iran is exactly what Hillary Clinton really thinks, given that she did not make a deal when she was SecState and took a much harder line on negotiations than Kerry did. And even Kerry was prodded by the President demanding that we get “creative” to get to a deal when it looked like one wouldn’t happen, which is politispeak for “make whatever concessions you have to”. well said…she’s only vocally going along with the deal to not alienate Obama or too many anti-war types, which woulda brought in Biden. Had she not gone along, Biden would be in the race right now. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/118 "2016-06-06T02:25:00Z")
I wouldn’t go that far. Her strategy is to tie herself to Obama, so that means supporting him fully on everything. But on the Iran deal, I think she’ll be much less inclined to overlook breaches than Obama would be. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/119 "2016-06-06T16:04:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > [It won’t be David French.](http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/david-french-won-t-mount-independent-bid-president-n586186) Heh. Bill Kristol is so trolly, insane, and just plain wrong about everything I have to assume that he posts here on Elections. Now, I never would say that anyone else here aspires to be a mini-Kristol, but my formidable powers of prognostication assure me that the Forum will continue to be filled with talk of how huge a percentage of the vote Gary Johnson’s going to get on the Libertarian ticket. It’s different this time, don’t you know. ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2016, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048/120 "2016-06-06T16:15:21Z")
Has anyone ever seen **Bill Kristol** and **adaher** in the same place at the same time? Hmm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-kristols-independent-candidate-who-will-it-be/756048.md?page=7)